Grade 8 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 8 math in the BC Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number represents, describes, and compares the quantities of ratios, rates, and percents.
- Computational fluency and flexibility with numbers extend to operations with fractions.
- Discrete linear relations can be represented in many connected ways and used to identify and make generalizations.
- The Pythagorean theorem and the surface area and volume of 3D objects can be used to describe, measure, and compare spatial relationships.
- Analyzing data by determining averages is one way to make sense of large data sets and enables us to compare and interpret.
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes.
- Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student.
- Estimate first (the bill, the trip time), then check with a calculator.
- Keep a tricky-problems list and revisit it every few days instead of re-doing everything.
What each unit covers
Fraction Operations
Adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, multiplying and dividing fractions, switching between mixed numbers and improper fractions, and finding a fraction of an amount.
Squares, Cubes & Roots
Knowing perfect squares and cubes, finding square roots and cube roots, estimating where a square root falls between whole numbers, and linking squares to the area of a square.
Ratios, Rates & Proportions
Simplifying ratios, finding missing terms in equivalent ratios, comparing unit prices, working with speed, scaling recipes and map distances, and turning a part of a whole into a percent.
Percents & Money
Finding a percent of a number, moving between fractions, decimals and percents, sale prices and sales tax (BC's 12%), simple monthly budgets, and making change.
Patterns & Two-Step Equations
Writing and evaluating expressions like 3n + 2, solving two-step equations, and finding the rule for a growing pattern or a cost made of whole items such as tickets.
Pythagorean Theorem
Finding a missing side of a right triangle, checking whether a triangle is a right triangle, and using the theorem for ladders and diagonals.
Surface Area & Volume
Finding surface area and volume of boxes, cubes, triangular prisms and cylinders, working backwards to a missing dimension, linking cm³ to millilitres, and recognizing nets and views of 3D objects.
Probability & Data
Counting outcomes, finding theoretical and experimental probabilities, predicting how often something will happen, and summarizing data with the mean, median and range.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Emerging
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Proficient
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Extending
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the BC report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 8 child with math?
Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 8 math in BC?
The BC Curriculum Grade 8 math units include fraction operations, squares, cubes & roots, ratios, rates & proportions, percents & money, patterns & two-step equations, pythagorean theorem.
Free printable Grade 8 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.